PJ Vescovi

Thankfulness, pride, envy, joy. Compassion, judgmental, self-righteous, forgiving. Loving, lustful, dismissive, patient. Shame, passion, regret, hope.  Life, depression, contentment, death.

What do these have in common? They are all largely a result of our perspective.  Nothing steers a life more than perspective. The media wants to shape it, Hollywood plots for it, political movements pay for it and big business tries to manipulate it.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life. Prov 4:23” I believe that this is the challenge of today. What would happen if we would perceive our life and others through the lens of unconditional love and grace?  What if we wouldn’t be offended by sin (no matter how great) , but compassionate towards the sinner?  After all, that’s what we all are.

I couldn’t help but ponder the role of perspective in the recent suicides. Two wonderful, accomplished people who felt like their best option, was to take their own life. Somewhere in their journey, their perspective relative to the world was muddied and confused. Pain became their identity, rather than love.  I wish I could have spoken with them, better yet walked with them through their seasons of pain. We all need that. It’s clear that even extreme career success and fame is not an antidote for hopelessness or emptiness.

It’s not just celebrities. The sad thing is, I’ve never met anyone who didn’t know someone who attempted or committed suicide. This has been close to me. I’ve lost friends, I’ve almost lost friends, and I’ve ridden in the back of ambulances with friends.  The complexities of our frail humanity leave us susceptible to feelings and mentalities that can spiral us into places we can’t handle.  We need each other.  We all need someone to talk to, someone to listen, and help us perceive our worth and value. When you are struggling and wrestling with despair, the thing you want to do the most, is the worst thing to do – Isolate.

I don’t know much. But I know that my life only makes sense when viewed through the unconditional love of my savior. To know that I’m not a mistake, that He’s not disappointed in me, is pulling for me, and working all things together for me.  He has an abundance of plans, redo’s and new beginnings.  I can’t out-sin His grace. That life can be falling apart, yet somehow I’m content. His love doesn’t run out or tire, and his affection is constant and not contingent. His mercies are new every morning, and because of Him, I always have a reason for Hope and a reason to get up and live well.

If perspective isn’t shaped intentionally, it will be shaped by default. Circumstances that don’t make you, will break you. It’s amazing how quickly we can lose perspective and how easily a bad day can become a bad month, a bad year or a bad life.

The world desperately needs to know and experience His Love for them individually. That’s why I pastor, and that’s why my family fights for others. If we will be open and attentive to the needs around us, God will bring us people who need our time and loving concern. Their life may depend on it.

If you are struggling today, open up and share your struggle with a friend, teacher, pastor or family member. Ask God to bring you someone  who you can unmask with. Most of all, surrender your life to Jesus. He’s waiting to show you His perspective of you. I can’t promise you that it won’t be hard, but it will be worth it.  His eyes don’t lie.

He who spared not His own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not with him also give us all things? Romans 8:32

PJ